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This course successfully prepared attendees with the proper knowledge on the materials they're working with, as well as expert welding techniques to perfect their craft in the field. At the end of the course, participants took the theoretical and practical exams, which adheres to DVS 2212-1 and DVS 2212-3 standards. All participants passed the exams with flying colors and can call themselves, "plastic welders according to DVS 2212-1/-3" standards.

The course was led by Jens Heyer from Aachen University in Germany and Leister Technologies' product specialist, Dave Rothbard; who arranged and hosted the program. I sat down with Dave, who gave further insight into what this course encompassed.

How was it? How'd the attendees like the course?

The 2018 DVS training program was great! We have received lots of positive feedback from both Leister employees and external trainees. Jens did a fantastic job leading the course from the classroom to the hands-on training. He took a deep dive into thermoplastic, hot gas welding and extrusion welding theory, which was appreciated by the trainees. From this knowledge dump, they were able to increase their intelligence on the material they work with in the field, as well as their welding capabilities.

What did a typical day look like for this course?

The beginning of the day started in the classroom, going over theory, while the afternoon focused on practical welding. It was important to start off the day with theory as it gave trainees more insight on how to complete securely bonded welds.

What made this course so successful and what do you think will make for an even better training course next year?

Jens ability to transfer his depth of knowledge in a way that's easily understood, made for a very pleasant experience for trainees. Not only was Jens a big part of the success of this course, but the trainee's willingness and desire to learn as much information as possible, made for a smooth class all-around.

Next year we will alter some of the equipment and material to better fit the practical welding. We're planning on offering the training at a time during the year that's more convenient for fabricators. Our goal is to be more proactive in the field when offering and explaining the training to existing and prospective customers.

What's the benefit of attending this course/how important is it for these individuals to become certified and/or licensed?

It varies; however, the certification lends credibility when discussing capabilities. The license is proof that the individual welder is qualified and has passed a rigorous examination of theoretical and practical plastic welding. It also gives lots of knowledge and confidence to welders in the process, as well as their ability to weld. Companies can offer customers guaranteed work based on DVS specs.

Did you notice a difference in the welds when trainees first began to the time that they finished the course?

Absolutely yes. Trainees listened intently to all the information delivered by Jens and studied his every move as he welded. By the end of the course, it was clear that the knowledge they absorbed had resulted in improved welding techniques and ability. Attendees were able to perfect high quality, permanent weld geometry and seams that even wow Jens.

What type of welds were attendees performing most?

V-seam and fillet were the most commonly performed welds. To achieve the v-shaped angle that's typical for the v-seam, the work pieces are either bevelled or positioned at an appropriate angle to each other. The fillet weld is one of the most frequently-used seam geometries. It's produced by welding two work pieces that are met in a t-joint.